Diane Dimond: The Internet is making us into sociopaths
By: Diane Dimond
Examiner Columnist
October 10, 2010

Has the Internet made us more vicious? I ask because it sure seems to me that we are quickly becoming a people who have forgotten how to empathize with others.

With our computer anonymity, many of us have decided we can "say" things over the World Wide Web that we would never, ever say to someone's face. Cruel comments can be lobbed without personal risk, so we send them out like invisible hand grenades, set to explode when opened.

Read some of the remarks others leave behind at your favorite news website. Some of the remarks are way past mean -- some are criminal, as they issue death threats or illegally invade the privacy of others. And some recent actions taken with the help of the Internet are also criminal.

I'm speaking, of course, about the case of 18-year-old Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi who committed suicide after learning his roommate had rigged a webcam to beam out his tryst with another male student -- live -- over the Internet.

Clementi's sadistically spirited roommate never gave a thought to how the shy classical violinist who was grappling with his sexuality might react to this horrific breach of privacy. And that's the problem!

Dare I say the Internet has become our means of tapping into our inner sociopath?

It's not just the younger "Internet generation," but grown adults, as well, who fail to stop to think what effect their actions will have on the target of their cruelty. Psychiatrists will tell you that's classic sociopathic behavior, a complete lack of empathy for others.

I told you a few weeks ago about a new book I've written, "Cirque Du Salahi -- Be Careful Who You Trust," about the couple erroneously branded as the "White House Gate Crashers."

In the book, which highlights the poor journalism behind the splashy tale, I revealed that Michaele Salahi has suffered for 17 years with multiple sclerosis. It was a gut-wrenching disclosure for Michaele, and she wept when she talked about it on television.

The Internet reaction was jaw dropping. The inhuman comments ranged from, "I don't believe it. I want to see a doctor's note," to, "She picked M.S. because it matches with her initials -- she's too stupid to think of any other disease."

Many posts hammered the couple for their past debts, and one went so far as to declare, "I'm wishing for a murder-suicide with these two."

No matter what the perceived transgressions of a fellow citizen, when they reveal they have a life-altering, non-curable disease, I would think the proper response would be one of sympathy. Not in the Salahi's case, and not in the case of Fox News commentator Glenn Beck, after he recently disclosed he has a disease which might result in his total blindness.

The Internet comments included ugliness like this: "It is not Mr. Beck's eyes that should fail, rather his vocal chords should shrivel up." And this one from a man named Brian: "Beck is already blind to the truth, so what does it matter if he can't see." Alyn wrote: "He should not lose his eyesight. He should lose his life."

What has happened to us? We're supposed to be the country where people are proud to live free and have the freedom to speak our minds and not be vilified for it.

Very good piece. I try hard to be pretty much the same no matter what platform I'm using. Do you take advantage of Internet anonymity to unchain your beast?

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/The-Internet-is-making-us-into-sociopaths-1178530-104684474.html#ixzz12A1BnxWP

Wei Wu Wei

10-12-2010, 01:10 PM

I've usually tried to treat people online with the same respect that I do in real life, but I admit it is extremely difficult (then again I don't spend as much time IRL around people trying their hardest to insult me) sometimes.

It's easy to project an image of what someone must be like and react to that while being totally disconnected from the feeling of it.

Rockntractor

10-12-2010, 01:13 PM

I've usually tried to treat people online with the same respect that I do in real life, but I admit it is extremely difficult (then again I don't spend as much time IRL around people trying their hardest to insult me) sometimes.

It's easy to project an image of what someone must be like and react to that while being totally disconnected from the feeling of it.

You are this way in person?:confused::eek:

Gingersnap

10-12-2010, 01:25 PM

I've certainly seen conversations on the Internet that would never happen IRL. On the Internet, people seem to lack the ability to just "walk" away that they would exercise normally.

FlaGator

10-12-2010, 01:30 PM

I've certainly seen conversations on the Internet that would never happen IRL. On the Internet, people seem to lack the ability to just "walk" away that they would exercise normally.

I would say that most conversations of a serious nature that take place on the internet are nothing like they would be in real life. It's like driving a car. Behind the wheel with a few thousand pounds of steel wrapped around a person, one tends to believe in his or her on invincibility and behaves in ways they never would face to face.

Wei Wu Wei

10-12-2010, 02:35 PM

You are this way in person?:confused::eek:

I'm very kind (I think) in person.

Rockntractor

10-12-2010, 02:37 PM

I'm very kind (I think) in person.

Do you have a dog?:confused:

Wei Wu Wei

10-12-2010, 02:47 PM

I wish. I can't have a dog at the moment but I love dogs. I have a cat.

Ree

10-12-2010, 02:52 PM

I'm pretty much the same online as I am in person...

Gingersnap

10-12-2010, 03:48 PM

I'm pretty much the same online as I am in person...

We know and we're terrified. :p

Articulate_Ape

10-12-2010, 05:57 PM

Has the Internet made us more vicious? I ask because it sure seems to me that we are quickly becoming a people who have forgotten how to empathize with others.

An interesting question. I would ask the census worker I have stored in the basement, but every time I peel back the duct tape she screams.

Gingersnap

10-12-2010, 06:16 PM

An interesting question. I would ask the census worker I have stored in the basement, but every time I peel back the duct tape she screams.

Does the screaming bother you anymore? That's your answer. :p

Articulate_Ape

10-12-2010, 06:28 PM

Does the screaming bother you anymore? That's your answer. :p

Nah, I'm used to it, but it makes the two Jehovah's Witnesses rattle their chains and that drives me nuts.

Gingersnap

10-12-2010, 06:49 PM

Nah, I'm used to it, but it makes the two Jehovah's Witnesses rattle their chains and that drives me nuts.

Threaten them with birthday cake.

Articulate_Ape

10-12-2010, 06:58 PM

Threaten them with birthday cake.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! :D

FlaGator

10-12-2010, 07:55 PM

An interesting question. I would ask the census worker I have stored in the basement, but every time I peel back the duct tape she screams.

Tell me Clarisse, have the lambs stopped screaming?

Ree

10-13-2010, 12:38 PM

We know and we're terrified. :p
good to know I haven't totally turned into a wuss:p